Should You Let Your Freak Flag Fly?

The question of the day is: should you let your freak flag fly? We’ll get to why that’s the topic of the day in a minute, but first let’s define what it means to “let your freak flag fly”, because, honestly, I did have to Google that one to understand it.

And the meaning of this rather colourful saying is simply this: to be comfortable with your unique, eccentric creative, adventurous or unconventional personality or style quirks. In short, it means giving yourself permission to just be yourself, and not being afraid to let your true colours shine through, even if they’re completely different than those of everyone around you.

The reason we’re talking about this today is that this particular phrase has crossed my path a number of times, in various ways, over the past few weeks. In this same time frame, I’ve also been frequently coming across a quote from Joss Whedon, who is the creator of the television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, amongst other things. That quote from Joss Whedon touches on the same topic, and it says: “Whatever makes you weird is probably your greatest asset” (I’m telling you – that quote has been cropping up everywhere for me lately!)

Now, when I get the same concept, idea or topic crossing my path in so many ways in a condensed time frame, it’s usually an indicator to me that there are a lot of people out there who are currently struggling with it. Which generally means it’s something that would make a good blog post or podcast topic because it’s a subject that is likely on a lot of my readers and listener’s minds.

So back to our original question: should you let your freak flag fly? Should you really let loose all those wonderful little personality quirks that really showcase the real you; should you risk letting yourself be seen for who you really are?

For many of us, the concept of taking all the masks off and just being ourselves is more than a little bit scary. What if people don’t like the real you? What’s more, you’ve spent so long trying to fit yourself into the mold that you’re expected to fit into, you may not even be sure who the real you is anymore.

Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

If that’s the case, then maybe it’s time to go back to basics. Look within, and try to remember what it was that made your heart sing when you were a child. What did you love to do? What kept you busy for hours and made you forget the time? What about now?

If you had no responsibilities and nothing to do to today – what if you weren’t allowed to do anything “important” today, and could only do something that you enjoyed doing. And what if you were guaranteed that no one would say a word; that there would be no judgement or commentary of any sort about what that “something” was? What would you choose to do?

Now ask yourself why. Why is it that you love doing that something? What is it about that something that makes you so happy?

There is magic in the answers; your magic. Your little spark of awesomeness that gives you the clues to who you are, and what you’re meant to be doing here. So what if anyone else thinks it might be a little weird? This is your gift; the one you came here to share with the world. And, yes, it really could be your greatest asset. So don’t be afraid to share it. Wave that banner. Let your colours shine. Let your freak flag fly.